DEQ fines Salem resident for open-burning plastics, insulation

Tracy Loew, Salem Statesman Journal

September 9, 2023 at 9:01 AM·4 min read

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality levied 26 fines in July, totaling $465,561.

Among them were a Salem resident open-burning plastics, insulation and polystyrene; a residential developer damaging wetlands in Woodburn; and a Hillsboro computer chip manufacturer operating without proper pollution control equipment.

Recipients can appeal their fines by requesting a hearing within 20 calendar days of receiving their penalty letter. DEQ sometimes reduces or eliminates fines after appeals.

Recipients also may be able to resolve part of their fines by sponsoring an environmental improvement project instead of paying a penalty.

Here are the citations:

Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Portland, $213,600

For multiple violations of an agreement the company signed with DEQ in October 2021, as well as violations of the air quality permit for its glass manufacturing facility at 9710 Glass Plant Road.

Circle K Stores, Oregon City, $47,124

For failing to report and investigate a suspected fuel release, failing to maintain a spill bucket, failing to display a valid annual operating certificate and failing to provide about compliance with financial responsibility requirements.

Columns and the Oregon Department of Corrections sign greet visitors at Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario.

Oregon Department of Corrections Snake River Correctional Institution, Ontario, $37,297

For failing to have an underground storage tank release detection system and other monitoring and testing violations. DEQ also ordered the state to repair or replace malfunctioning spill and overflow prevention equipment and the tank release detection system; and, for all metal piping, ensure the equipment is isolated from corrosive elements or install cathodic protection.

Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, $30,816

For failing to properly operate pollution control for two months at its semiconductor manufacturing facility at 2501 NW 229^th Ave., and failure to report the issue to DEQ.

Amazon.com Services, Troutdale, $17,735

For multiple violations of its industrial stormwater permit.

Millbank Materials USA, Portland, $17,337

For failing to implement a stormwater pollution control plan and perform inspections.

LGI Homes, Woodburn, $13,800

For failing to comply with a DEQ agreement and stormwater construction permit at the Dove Landing subdivision, impacting wetlands outside of the project area and Mill Creek.

Castle Arden 1 and Castle Tire, Portland, $13,600

For operating a waste tire storage site without a permit. Chipped tires at the facility have caught fire at least three times, DEQ said in its order.

Vanport Manufacturing, Boring, $13,200

For failing to implement a stormwater pollution control plan and perform inspections.

Orchid Orthopedic Solutions Oregon, Oregon City, $12,400

For violating its industrial stormwater permit.

Wood Waste Management, Portland, $11,320

For operating an industrial facility without a stormwater permit.

Malhi & Bal, Weston, $10,099

For failing to have an underground storage tank release detection system and other monitoring and testing violations.

PPM Technologies Holdings, Newberg, $8,000

For violating its industrial stormwater permit.

C-2 Utility Contractors, Portland, $7,600

For failing to perform stormwater monitoring as part of its industrial stormwater permit.

Shane Teeters, Salem, $2,870

For open burning of prohibited materials, including artificial turf, plastic tarps, polystyrene, ceramics and insulation at a residential property at 4365 60^th Ave. NE. The open burn pile also contained a large number of tree stumps that had been removed from around or near Detroit.

Willamette Falls Paper Company, West Linn, $1,800

For spilling or releasing oil into the Willamette River.